Important Update: U.S. Visa Validity and Entry Limits Have Changed

The U.S. Department of State has made changes to the Visa Reciprocity Schedule, which determines how long a visa stamp is valid and whether it allows single or multiple entries, based on your country and visa type.

What’s New?

As of July, many nonimmigrant visas are now being issued for:

• Only 3 months
• Single entry only

This is a major change from the previous rules for many of the affected countries, which allowed for longer validity and multiple entries. 

Who Is Affected?

According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, this change impacts around 50 countries and applies to popular nonimmigrant visa types, including:

• B (Business/Tourism)
• F (Student)
• H (Temporary Worker)
• J (Exchange Visitor)
• M (Vocational Student)
• O (Extraordinary Ability Workers)

It also affects:

• L-1 (Intracompany transfers)
• P-1 (Athletes & Entertainers)
• Q-1 (Cultural Exchange Visitors)
• R-1 (Religious Workers)
• U-1 (Crime Victims)

What is a visa for?

Please recall that the visa stamp is the document issued by a U.S. embassy abroad in your passport that allows you to enter the United States.  The expiration date of your visa does not govern the length of time you are permitted to remain in the United States in a valid nonimmigrant status.

The length of time you are admitted in your nonimmigrant status will depend on the visa category, and associated petition approval period.

Already Have a Visa?

No need to worry. If your visa was issued before the change, it will still be valid for the time and number of entries listed on it.

Applying for a Visa?

The Countries affected per NAFSA are as follows:

• Afghanistan *
• Angola
• Benin
• Bhutan
• Burkina Faso
• Burma/Myanmar *
• Burundi **
• Cabo Verde
• Cambodia – (H = 1 month / 1 entry; B, F, J, M, O = 3 months / 1 entry)
• Cameroon
• Chad *
• China – (O visas only = 3 months / 1 entry)
• Comoros – (H, J, O visas only = 3 months / 1 entry)
• Cote D’Ivoire
• Congo, Republic of *
• Congo, Democratic Republic of – (M = 1 month / 1 entry; B, F, J, M, O = 3 months / 1 entry)
• Cuba **
• Eritrea *
• Ethiopia
• Equatorial Guinea *
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea-Bissau (H = 3 months / 1 entry; O = 3 months / multiple entry)
• Haiti *
• Iran *
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos ** (F-1 = “6 months, multiple entry visas – $40.00 /or 3 months single entry visas – no fee; B, F-2, J, M, O = 3 months / 1 entry)
• Libya * (O = 1 month / 1 entry; B, F, J, and M = 3 months / 1 entry)
• Papua New Guinea (B-2 = 6 months / 1 entry; O = 3 months / 1 entry)
• Madagascar (B limited to 3 months / multiple entries; F, H, J, M, O limited to 3 months / 1 entry)
• Malawi
• Micronesia (B, F, and M l = 3 months / 2 entries; J, H, and O = 3 months / 1 entry)
• Nauru (B-2 only = 3 months / 1 entry)
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Palau (B, F, and M = 3 months / 2 entries; J, H, and O = 3 months / 1 entry)
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Sierra Leone **
• Somalia *
• South Sudan
• Sudan *
• Syria (B, F, J, M = 3 months / multiple entries; H and O = 3 months / 1 entry)
• Tanzania
• Timor-Leste (B, F, and M = 3 months / 2 entries; J, H, and O = 3 months / 1 entry)
• Togo **
• Tonga
• Turkmenistan ** (B, F, J, M, H, O have tiered fee schedules that impact duration and number of entries)
• Tuvalu (B-1 = 1 month / 1 entry; B-2, F, H, J, M, O = 3 months / 1 entry)
• Uganda
• Vanuatu
• Venezuela **
• Yemen *
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

* These 12 countries are currently subject to a full ban that suspends entry into the United States in all immigrant and nonimmigrant categories.

** These 7 countries a currently subject to a partial ban that suspends entry into the United States as immigrants and of nonimmigrants “B-1, B‑2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.” For each of the partial ban countries listed, the proclamation also directed consular officers to “reduce the validity for any other nonimmigrant visa … to the extent permitted by law.”

 

Please note, many of the above countries are also affected by the Presidential Proclamation issued on June 4, 2025: Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats. As such, individuals from these countries may also need to apply for a waiver before being issued a visa.

 

If you have questions or concerns about the Department of State’s updates to the visa reciprocity schedule or other immigration matters, please reach out to Kolko & Casey, P.C.